The three major indices posted their third straight weekly gains, with the benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average notching an eighth positive close -- its longest winning streak in more than a year.
But after flirting with new records, the results for the day were underwhelming.
The Dow inched up 0.1 percent to close at 27,219.52, about 140 points below an all-time high set July 15 and short of the high point of the day.
The broader S&P 500 turned negative, falling 0.1 percent to end at 3,007.39, while the Nasdaq sank 0.2 percent to finish at 8,176.71.
Ahead of a new round of trade talks next month, China announced Friday it will exempt American soybeans and pork from its retaliatory tariffs.
Adam Sarhan of 50 Park Investments told AFP the day's subdued trading was a "normal and healthy action after a big rally."
"This is the perfect area for the market to pause before it tries to reach new highs," he said.
"The Fed meets next week and before a big meeting it is normal to see the market pause a little bit. They are waiting for the next big catalyst."
Among individual companies, iPhone maker Apple fell 1.9 percent after investment bank Goldman Sachs said the company's new streaming service could weigh on earnings.
Meanwhile, bankrupt utility PG&E jumped 10.8 percent after announcing a $11 billion settlement with insurance companies over its responsibility for deadly California forest fires last year.